The 2013 Office of Civil Rights Memo on extracurricular athletics brought attention to the idea that individuals with disabilities have a right to consistent opportunities to participate in sports programs provided by schools across the country. This article examines the key points related to participation along a continuum of opportunities by…

This article highlights the State-Wide Read Aloud Days of the picturebook "My Shadow is Purple" (Stuart, 2022) held across and beyond the state of Georgia in response to the firing of elementary school teacher Katie Rinderle under Georgia's trio of censorship laws. The goals for this article are to: (1) document and analyze the emergence…

The transition from school to work is wonderful and exciting, but the process can also be scary. Each of us goes through it--turning 18, opening a bank account, applying for a first job, and the myriad of activities entailed in legally becoming an adult. While some students, in accordance with the law, remain in school until they are 21, at…

It is essential that HPERD professionals work together to be spokespeople for their areas at the local, state, and national levels. But what does it look like and how does it happen? The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of advocacy across these three levels, and to provide health and physical educators with some concrete…

Little is known regarding the social network relationships that influence dissemination of evidence-based public health practices and policies. In public health, it is critical that evidence-based guidelines, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs," are…

Teaching artists work in a field with a long, rich history, and many roots and strands of development. One of TAJ's roles is to try to make this history more accessible and useful to working teaching artists. In this article, the author outlines the evolution of teaching artistry in the United States.

Random drug testing (RSDT) in schools is a controversial topic. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that RSDT is constitutional for certain groups of students. Moreover, funding has been made available for schools to implement RSDT programs through the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. This…

Most state professional associations promote and fund at some level, an advocacy program. These advocacy programs usually aim to support or plead for a program, policy, or proposal. They can range from simple communication to complex strategies, from daily interactions to annual productions, and from position papers to onsite, legislative visits.…

The September, 1986, consent decree in the case of Wyatt v. Stickney ended 14 years of court supervision of the Alabama state mental health system. The state agreed to adhere to Wyatt standards, maintain accreditation, continue deinstitutionalization efforts, and develop an internal advocacy and quality assurance program. (Author/DB)

The Ohio state consultant for gifted education review the efforts leading to current stable funding for gifted education. He emphasizes the need for careful planning, converting plans into action, presenting funding demands in a coordinated and timely way, converting the funds into positive experiences for students, and evaluating the efforts. (CL)

Expansion of newborn screening (NBS) has been driven primarily by a combination of advances in technology and medical treatment, and the sustained advocacy efforts of consumers and voluntary health organizations. The longstanding leadership of the March of Dimes has been credited by many as a critical factor in the expansion and improvement of…

Explains the concept of corporate legal guardianship, which allows a single legal entity to serve as guardian to thousands of clients at one time. Discusses the concept's broad applicability to classes of people other than the developmentally disabled and shows its potential as a unique interdisciplinary approach. (Author/ABB)

Presents a set of snapshots of the work of the Staff Development Leadership Councils created by the National Staff Development Council in 1998, offering lessons for others who want to do similar work in their states and provinces. The examples come from Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Kansas, and Indiana. Information on contact people for each project…

The Developmental Disabilities Act provides funds to State Developmental Disabilities Councils to formulate comprehensive systems of services, supports, and other assistance. The act also supports protection and advocacy systems to protect legal rights, university-affiliated programs to provide preservice preparation, and national initiatives to…

Describes the local political action and advocacy efforts of members of the National Network for Early Language Learning in promoting foreign language education, focusing on the efforts of Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, and Vermont. Also lists recipients of state exemplary political action and advocacy awards. (SM)